Flexible threshold



Jan. 29, 1929. 1,700,152 Y c. BECK FLEXIBLE THRESHOLD Filed Jan. 27, 1928 I I nvenlor (/W/es Beck A tlorney.

Patented Jan. 29, 1929.

CHARLES BECK, OF OOLBERT, WASHINGTON.

FLEXIBLE THRESHOLD.

Application filed January 27, 1928. Serial No. 249,911.

My present invention relates to improvements in flexible thresholds designed for use in connection with the door sills of houses and other building structures for the purpose of insuring a close fit at the bottom edge of the door. The primary object of the invention is the provision of a threshold or strip of flexible material which will flex both transversely and longitudinally in order that it may adapt itself to irregularities on the floor or sill, thus insuring a neat appearance for the doorway. Means are also provided whereby the longitudinal edges of the threshold may be secured with a close fit against. the supporting surface in order that the floor may be swept free of dust and the latter swept over the threshold.

My invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangements of parts in the flexible threshold as will hereinafter be more fully pointed out and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention made according to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a sectional detail View showing a portion of a floor and door sill and a door, and the threshold of my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of the threshold; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view at line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

v In order that the general arrangement and relation of parts may readily be understood, I have shown in Fig. 1 a portion of a door sill S, a floor joist J and a part of the flooring F, together with the loweredge of a door D.

The threshold is shown overlapping a portion of the sill and it is flexible or bent to adapt the body of the threshold to the angular surface provided by the top of the sill and the floor F. The body 1 of the threshold is composed of flexible material such as rubher or a rubber composition, or fabric may be used in the rubber, to insure a strong and duof course extends the width of the doorway and is provided with a top flat surface 2 and curved or rounded sides 3. The bottom 4: of the threshold is flat, but of course the threshold is adapted to be bent longitudirable article of manufacture. The threshold nally or transversely, and under such conditions the bottom mav have an irregular surface. To render the body of the threshold more flexible and resilient, I provide a series of longitudinally extending grooves 5 in the bottom face of the threshold and these grooves which are arranged in parallelism, form arches for strengthening the body of the threshold as well as for rendering the body more flexible and resilient.

Between the adjoining arches and in the body of the threshold, I arrange a number of reinforcing strips 6 which extend longi tudinally of the threshold from end to end and are fashioned from suitable material such as wood, metal, or fiber, and means are provided whereby nails 7 may be driven through these strips and into the flooring or sill for firmly anchoring the threshold to its supporting surface.

It will be noted that the two reinforcing edge strips 8 that extend longitudinally of the threshold, are provided with beveled or sharpened outer edges 9 that project from the edges of the threshold. These beveled edges 9 thus fit snugly and tight against the face of the sill or of the floor to close up any cracks or openings that otherwise might be formed between the threshold and its supporting surface. Thus as seen in Fig. 1, these beveled edges of the strips render it possible to sweep dust from the floor over the threshold and door sill and the beveled edges of the strips eliminate any cracks or crevices in which the dust may be gathered. The threshold may be made up in suitable lengths or strips and pieces are cut therefrom adapting them to the Various widths of the doorways or door openings and these strips may be sawed or cut transversely to provide the exact length for a threshold to be used in a particular doorway. Nails 7 are driven through the body of the threshold until their heads encounter the reinforcing strips and the openings through which the nails pass are thereafter closed thus rendering the nails invisible.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1.. A threshold comprising a body of flexible and resilient material having reinforcing longitudinally extending strips, said threshold having tapered edges and reinforcing strips projecting from said edges, and the projecting edges of said strips being beveled adapted to receive nails, said threshold havor sharpened for the purpose described. ing tapered side edges,ireinf0rcing strips ex- 2. Athreshold of'resilient andflexible niatendingalong said tapered side edges and terial adapted to be flexed on longitudinal projecting therefrom, and said projecting 5 and transverse lines and having a series of edges being beveled for the purpose described. parallel, longitudinally extendinggrooves'in" In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. its under face, a series of intermediate reinforcing strips between said groovesand CHARLES BECK. 

